Cong strategist faces flak, party comes to his rescue

Congress has come to the rescue of poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who has been at the receiving end of many party leaders’ anger after its rout in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Assembly elections.

After he played a role in the election victories of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar the following year, Congress had tasked Kishor with its poll campaigns in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab. A number of senior Congress leaders privately questioned Kishor’s role in the failed election campaigns in UP and Uttarakhand, but credited the Punjab victory to the leadership of Amarinder Singh, now the chief minister.

A poster had come up outside the Congress office in Lucknow declaring an award of Rs 5 lakh to any person locating Kishor, referred to as PK within party circles.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the party was satisfied with Kishor’s work. “Congress party values the hard work and contribution of PK and team, and rejects the propaganda by vested interests,” Surjewala said. He said Congress was determined to meet all future challenges with the entire pool of talent available.

DH News Service